March 14, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 19 (NIV)
The Water of Cleansing
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2“This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. 3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.......Continue Reading
Another chapter that makes me so appreciate that the blood Jesus shed to make us clean! The ceremonial processes to make someone clean are so detailed and so overwhelming a thought to me but shows me how important it is to God that we always come before Him clean.
Numbers 17 – 19
Numbers 19 –
Numbers 19
It is important to recognize this procedure was in relation to the uncleanliness that would come from touching a dead body or being in the presence of one. Although it says the cleansing was to address sin, the chapter goes on to describe particular situations relating to death. It might cause us to consider what God was hoping the Jews would internalize from this. There may have been public health concerns as to what could be transmitted from a dead body. There also could be a reverence that God wanted the people to associate with death. Life is precious and someone’s passing should be regarded. In a similar sense, it depicts death as a negative and unpleasant thing. God is the author of life, and sin brought death. Our finite nature should cause us to question how death and the sin that caused it can be overcome. It can’t be by natural means. It has to be supernatural. The answer is Jesus and the victory He offers over death as well as the offer of eternal life. He calls us to believe in and accept what only He could provide. Praise be to God for such a great salvation.
It is also important to recognize there is no substance to the red heifer being associated with the coming of the Messiah. Feel free to ask me what I mean.
Numbers 19
God outlines the process of being purified after being in contact with the dead. With all of the activity of pagan nations around them I wonder if this is God’s way of forcing the people to recognize the seriousness of death. The mere presence with the body requires one to be separated for 7 days. This whole ceremony I think has lead to our modern reverence for life and the treatment of the dead in a respectful way.
I couldn’t help but think that the elements included in the purifying waters make soap. The ash from the burning of hard woods is used to make lye. The lye is combined with soft water….rain water and animal fat to make soap. The purifying waters don’t seem to be actual soap, but the ash mixed with the water would probably have some chemical affects….I hope no one used too much ash or left it for too long….or it would burn!
What do you mean by the red heifer, Pastor?
I meant, let’s talk in person….
I actually researched it. 😀
Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.